Staffordshire Punk band DISCHARGE, although unable to achieve commercial success in their own right, influenced many American & British acts including SLAYER and NAPALM DEATH. Fronted by vocalist Cal (a.k.a. Kelvin Morris) DISCHARGE were created in 1977 with guitarist Bones (real name Tony Roberts), bassist Rainy Wainwright (real name Roy) and drummer Tez (brother of Bones, Terry Roberts). They debuted on their 1980 inaugural single 'Realities Of War' on Stoke On Trent's Clay label, owned by Mike Stone- manager of DEMON. The band's opening salvo, recorded in just three hours, pushed DISCHARGE to the fore as without distribution it crashed into the charts of influential music magazine 'Sounds'.

DISCHARGE's caustic uncompromising musical approach, combined with their overt and vocal pacifist and vegetarian politics did not endear them to the British media, then in the grip of the post Punk Oi! phenomenon. Cal's vocals, and in particular his guttural 'grunt', put the band further apart from other Punk acts.

By late 1980 Tezz had quit to join local Metal acts. For DISCHARGE's 'Apocalypse Now' British tour the band pulled in the temporary services of Bambi who was replaced by Garry Maloney.

DISCHARGE's relentless barrage of live dates and a succession of EPs finally pushed the band into the British charts with their 1982 album 'Hear Nothing, See Nothing, Say Nothing'. The press were amused when the band members were prosecuted for claiming unemployment benefit whilst on tour! Nevertheless, DISCHARGE was by now playing in Europe and undertook their first American dates.

In late 1982 Bones opted out to create the more Metal edged BROKEN BONES with his bother Tezz (the latter now on bass). Following albums by BROKEN BONES Tezz joined BATTALION OF SAINTS and the UK SUBS.

The guitarist's position in DISCHARGE was filled by erstwhile BRUTE FORCE, SHOCK TV and MOSQUITOS man Peter 'Pooch' Pyrtle for 1983's touring schedule.

By 1983 the band's presence was being felt in America, especially with the upcoming breed of Thrash acts witnessed by Kirk Hammett's DISCHARGE shirt on the 'Ride The Lightning' album cover. DISCHARGE's 'Warning: Her Majesty's Government Can Seriously Damage Your Health' EP caught the band adopting more Doom Metal leanings than their previous all out Punk attack. After their second set of American dates, which included Canadian gigs, Pyrtle bailed out to create HELLS BELLES and to compound matters Maloney quit too.

Now down to a duo of Cal and Rainy DISCHARGE roped in friends to record the 'Never Again' sessions. A 1985 single 'Ignorance' had DISCHARGE with DEMON's Lez Hunt on guitar and Nick Haymaker on drums.

Guitarist Dave Ellesmere also had a period in DISCHARGE, he would later join FLUX, DR. AND THE CRIPPENS, THE INSANE and DISGUST. The next album 'Grave New World' had DISCHARGE pushing themselves further into Hard Rock territory. The change of direction proved too much for Wainright who quit. DISCHARGE recruited a new guitarist in DEMON man Stephen Brooks but by the end of the year Cal found himself sacked.

Frontman Rob Berkeley, better known as Rocky Shades from stackheeled Glamsters WRATHCHILD, took Cal's centre stage spot in February 1987. Gigs were few and far between and Berkeley returned to his previous act for their 1988 'The Bizz Suxx' album.

Clay issued posthumous releases in the form of 'Live At The City Garden New Jersey', culled from their second American tour and another live effort 'The Nightmare Continues' recorded on the band's stamping ground of Stoke On Trent.

DISCHARGE reunited in 1991. Joining Cal and Maloney were guitarist Andy Green and bassist Anthony Morgan. A comeback album 'Massacre Divine' proved the band had lost none of their bite and the following year the band were honoured with the tribute album 'Discharged' which included acts such as ANTHRAX, CONCRETE SOX and EXTREME NOISE TERROR.

1997 saw DISCHARGE reforming with Cal, Bones, Rainy and Tezz. The latter also performs with BILLY CLUB. SOULFLY paid respect by covering both 'The Possibility Of Life's Destruction' and 'Ain't No Feeble Bastard' on the tour edition of their 1998 debut album. The mighty METALLICA rekindled DISCHARGE's flame with their 'Garage Days Revisted' album which included their homage to 'The More I See' and 'Free Speech For The Dumb'. Still active in 2004, DISCHARGE, comprising a line up of VARUKERS vocalist Rat, guitarist Tony Bones, bassist Rainy Wainwright and drummer Tez Roberts, set Brazilian dates for June. Included in the schedule would be gigs with Brazilian Hardcore veterans RATOS DE PORAO. A new studio album, 'The Beginning OF The End', would be slated for Summer release through Think Records.